Yeah I mean EDF took arguably a largely Spaletti/Sabatini team to the CL semis. The real test for him now is can he make another deep run with a team that is now completely his? I really don't know.

Another player to lookout for is Luca Pellegrini (no relation to Lorenzo, but is a Mino Raiola player) at LB. Exciting young full-back. Lots of pace, crossing ability and is a good dribbler. Recovering from a torn ACL that kept him out last season.

Biggest problem last season was the lack of creativity from the middle. We never properly replaced Pjanic until just now with Cristante and Pastore. Hopefully, they can provide much needed service and creativity through the middle as we cannot be creating all of our goals from the flanks. That's why our goal production was down last season from the season before.

The hope is that this side can now create in far more dynamic ways, making them more unpredictable.

Well the same was said about this side last season too though. That's what made the run such a shock to everyone.

Thanks to EDF, we're developing a reputation for being more dangerous when we're written off. I don't expect us to make the semis again, but rather than saying we have no chance, I'll just leave it at saying we have simply a slim chance.

Olsen is a good keeper but he isn't Roma level good. I don't know how good Roma players are at defending set pieces because Olsen can't collect even the easiest of balls into the box. He always makes a meal of them. Will cause chaos inside the Roma penalty area. He is good with his feet, gets the basics right and makes some nice saves from time to time. Let's put it this way he won't bail you out like Allison did vs Atleti but he won't be a Karius either. Good for Sweden that he goes to such a good team though

We have Mirante so at worst Olsen will be benched if he's not good enough. He's a Roma player now so he's got my support. We need a safe pair of hands and a commander of the defense. If Olsen is that player, and I hope he is. Then we'll be fine.

As for Malcolm. Whatever. I guess Barca needed a way of re-asserting their dominance over us and putting us back in our place after the events in the CL. I don't blame them and I don't blame Bordeaux either, who simply wanted to get as much for him as possible.

Guess we'll go after Suso, Berardi and any other winger that we have the cash to sign that other big clubs don't want. Meh.

Don't get me wrong, Nish.....when I first heard this news, I was pissed, like all Romanisti. I considered Malcolm a fair weather player, shifting his allegiances in whatever direction the wind blows strongest, Bordeaux cowards for breaking an agreement in principle, Barca bullies for poaching players from smaller clubs, and Palotta an asshole for making Monchi table another bid the latter knew Bordeaux wouldn't accept. There was a lot of anger there.

Then, like I always do, I consider the needs from all sides. We needed that marquee winger to finally replace Salah, Malcolm needed a bigger club as the next step in his career, Barca needed a cheaper alterantive to Willian, Bordeaux needed as much money from this transfer as possible to remain competitive in Ligue 1 and Palotta needed us to not seem weak.

On top of that, perhaps we had this coming given we beat Barca to signing Gerson and we also didn't exactly come off in the best light with how we signed Salah from Fiorentina.

Now I've moved on from it. Like EDF and as Monchi said, I only care about players who are at this club and those who want to be here. If they aren't and they don't, they aren't worthy of anymore of our time.

The name of Shakhtar Donetsk attacker Taison is one that has been linked in recent days to the Giallorossi. The player has also been sending “signals” on his Instagram account and event as far as to say “I’m coming!” to Juan Jesus. Despite the signs, the Brazilian is a name that does not excite Roma.

As learned by RomaPress, there has been contact in recent days between Roma and the entourage of Taison, including his agent Diego Dornelles, however, it seems difficult that a deal could close before the end of the transfer window on Friday. Di Francesco prefers a name on the right wing who plays with the left foot: a profile that Taison does not fit. Furthermore, Taison is 30 years old and will turn 31 in January as Monchi prefers a younger name.

Good. Getting rid of Perotti for a player far too similar to him in profile wouldn't have made any sense.

The new name is Maxwell Cornet of Lyon, who is a much better fit in all phases and is available at 20m + 30% of future sales according to L'Equipe.